Free A Date For The Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Brides Book 2) by Natalie Kristen

sulked.
“I'm jobless and homeless!”
    Tony sighed and tilted her
face up with both hands. Abby gave him a quick smile and excused
herself. She disappeared into the kitchen to give them some privacy.
    “Terri, you don't need
your apartment. You already have a home. You'll be moving in with
me,” he said firmly.
    “Why?” She was
still pouting.
    “Because...you're my
mate, and I love you,” he blurted out.
    Her eyes rounded. “Oh,
Tony, you don't have to...”
    “I mean every word,
Terri. You are my mate. And I'm not letting you get away from me
and run back to the city.”
    Terri swallowed. “I
still don't have a job...”
    “You do now. Nightfire
Landscaping needs a secretary to take care of all our paperwork.
We've been handling it ourselves, but it's a mess. Since Abby came,
she's been trying to organize all those overflowing messy files. But
it's an uphill task. You have your work cut out for you.”
    “Y-you...you're hiring
me?” she spluttered.
    “Yep. I'm one of the
owners of the business. I have the authority to hire any help we
need.”
    Terri tapped her chin,
pretending to consider his offer, but he could see the corners of her
mouth curving. “Fine,” she said at last. “I'll
have to negotiate my remuneration though.”
    Tony nodded. “Fair
enough. Name your price.”
    “You won't be able to
afford me.” She wagged a finger at him. “Oh no, I
demand to be paid in...services.”
    “What kind of
services?” Tony growled, coming closer to her.
    “Services of the sexual
kind. And since you're the one who hired me, you should be the one
to pay me.”
    “Of course.”
    “And I demand advance
payment.”
    Tony held her chin and tipped
her face up to him. “No advance, young lady,” he said,
brushing his lips against hers. “You start work right away.”
    “Mmm,” she
murmured against his mouth.
    “Cole's study is just
behind you. That's where we keep most of our paperwork. You can
start this very afternoon.”
    Terri smiled. “And my
payment?”
    “You'll be paid
promptly tonight.” Tony kissed down her jaw and neck. “Don't
work too late. I'm taking you out to dinner.”
    “Oh, a date?”
    “Yes. I've been
wanting to ask you out.”
    Terri quirked a lopsided
smile at him. “Dating your mate? That's romantic. But—why
haven't you marked me? You had the chance, you know, when you Turned
me and we...” She touched the base of her neck tentatively.
    “Trust me, I wanted to.
I wanted to claim you and mark you that night. But I'd just Turned
you. It wouldn't be fair to you. I didn't want to mark you against
your will, Terri.”
    She raised her hand to cup
the side of his face. “It wouldn't have been against my will.”
    Tony's brows shot up.
    She sighed softly and went
on, “You are my mate, and I love you, Tony. I fell in love
with you at first growl. I want you to mark me. And...” She
leaned in to whisper in his ear. “I'm going to mark you as
well, Tony-boy. You are mine.”
    Tony nipped her ear and she
squealed. “Bad, bad bear!”
    He swept her into his arms
and kissed her hard. “Get to work now,” he drawled,
pinching her butt playfully. “I've got to get back to the
site, but I'll pick you up at six.”
    “For our first date,”
she quipped.
    “Yes.”
    “Will we be having sex
on our first date?”
    Tony groaned. The little
minx was tempting him beyond reason. He had to get back to work, but
her seductive purr and the feel of her squirming, soft body against
his was making him so hard. He was going to have trouble walking.
    “Are you going to mark
me tonight?” she continued, pressing herself against his
erection.
    Tony stared at her and let
out a growl. “That isn't even a question.”
    She giggled as Abby appeared
from the kitchen with a huge grin. From the look on her face, Tony
knew that Abby had overheard everything.
    “Tony, Terri, this
is...the best thing ever! I'm so happy for you!” Abby put her
arms around them and hugged them both tightly. “And